Cleveland Browns rumors: Thoughts on a 9-man coaching search

Some thoughts on a Cleveland Browns coaching search that will reportedly include–as it stands right now–as many as nine candidates.

The Cleveland Browns will interview eight to nine coaches in the organization’s coaching search, which appears to extend far and wide.

The team completed its interview with Gregg Williams on New Years Day. It’s been reported ex-Packers’ coach Mike McCarthy will be interviewed on Thursday.

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Other candidates who will talk to the team include current offensive coordinator, Freddie Kitchens, Colts’ OC, Nick Sirianni, Vikings’ OC Kevin Stefanski (Monday), Colts’ DC, Matt Eberflus, Saints’ assistant head coach Dan Campbell (Friday) and Patriots’ DC Brian Flores.

• CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora also wrote the team would like to interview Patriots offensive coordinator and ex-Broncos coach Josh McDaniels.

• One person who won’t be getting interviewed for the gig is Adam Gase.

Gase was had a hot candidate name among social media after he was fired because it was reported he came highly recommended to owner Jimmy Haslam by Peyton Manning.

Oner person who won’t be shedding a tear over Gase is wideout Jarvis Landry, who tweeted this after his former coach got canned.

https://twitter.com/God_Son80/status/1079759183594033153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1079759183594033153&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cleveland.com%2Fbrowns%2F2019%2F01%2Fthe-browns-have-no-plans-to-interview-adam-gase-who-has-interviews-lined-up-with-at-least-3-teams.html

Landry publicly shared his discontent for the Dolphins while Gase was running things and that was a big reason the Browns were basically able to get him for nothing ( a third-round pick).

Gase has twice rejected the Browns in the past and will get an interview in Arizona. Other teams are expected to come calling.

• McDaniels interviewed with the Packers and that’s fine. I’m not interested. He seems like an opportunist and when Andrew Luck‘s career appeared in jeopardy with a shoulder injury, McDaniels left everyone high and dry to return to Tom Brady‘s nest.

Go coach Aaron Rodgers and good luck. I wonder if it’s the dream job everyone is making it out to be.

• Lincoln Riley can also be officially ruled as out, as he furthered his recent verbal commitment to Oklahoma by signing an a contract extension.

This one hurts the most because if he were going to jump to the NFL, why wouldn’t he do it now?

Riley could trust his innovate offensive ideas to be carried out by a familiar face, his former Sooners’ quarterback, Baker Mayfield.

• As far as college coaches go, Matt Campbell of Iowa State should be someone the Browns talk too, although there’s no guarantee he’ll interview. He reportedly told the Jets he wasn’t interested in their job and is on the record as saying he plans to return to coach the Cyclones next season.

• The candidate pool may not bode well for Gregg Williams, 60. With the exception of McCarthy, all of the names La Canfora threw out there are young-ish coaches who are still on the way up.

McCarthy is 55, but possesses a resume that includes a Super Bowl victory.

Gase and McDaniels are re-treads, but their stocks are still high and are considered as coaches you could pair with a franchise quarterback like Baker Mayfield for the next 10 years.

Being so close to the Browns, I can get a little blinded sometimes. I think we all can. We always want “the next big thing.” It’s not just us. It’s all of sports. The hope for something better that will lead to spoils, championship t-shirts and downtown parades.

But a quick paragraph from baseball Hall of Fame writer Hal McCoy, who now comments on various topics, has me thinking about Williams again.

"“What is Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam thinking? One minute after the Browns ended their season in Baltimore Sunday, Haslam should have been standing on the sideline with a contract, shoved it in interim coach Gregg Williams face and said, Sign here.'”"

Always interesting to get an outsider’s perspective.

Maybe Williams is the move (along with Freddie Kitchens). I think Mayfield really likes Kitchens and that offensive chemistry shouldn’t be disrupted.

Perhaps the Browns will interview Kitchens and view him as somebody who could be a head coach some day, but not quite yet. If that’s the case, why not have him simmer on the stove with Williams as the top man?

Or if they like Kitchens enough and view him as someone who could be a coach one day, why not just give him the gig.

Next. Final Browns 2018 player rankings, 1-55. dark

I can’t ignore Williams went 5-3, but I just don’t believe he’s a serious contender for the job.

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